Bulletin 2, May 18
This Bulletin is published by the Campaign to Ban Ads for Gambling, a group of individuals interested in securing legislation to ban advertisements for gambling, just as has been done for tobacco and cannabis.
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In this Bulletin:
1. Donations
2. Scary Gambling Stats
3. Things you can do
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1. Donations
Help support our work by making a donation. Funds will be spent on conducting and supporting research on gamlbling impacts; contacting and advocating with MPs, MPPs, faith groups, and general issues of awareness; supporting the staff member we have retained for the summer on a part time basis; and administrative expenses. Members of the steering committee are not compensated.
Make a Donation Now.
*We are not registered as a charity, and cannot provide an income tax receipt.
2. Scary Gambling Stats
The provincially controlled gambling enterprise, iGaming Ontario, has been in business since April 4, 2022, just a year. It reports more than 1.6 million active player accounts, on websites run by more than 40 gambling companies with which it has agreements.
In the first year, some $35.6 billion has been placed in total wagers, putting the province among the top 5 igaming jurisdictions in North America. The revenue to the province from gambling for this period is $1.4 billion. The leaders of iGaming Ontario note that gambling is now regulated and Ontario is making revenues that formerly were lost to illegal activity.
Average spending by each registered player was $167 a month in the third quarter of the year.
It is estimated that about 3 per cent of gamblers become addicted. That would mean some 50,000 of those registered with iGaming Ontario.
The Ontario Auditor General reported in November 2022 on OLG, Ontario Lottery and Gaming, noting that while the province receives 45 per cent of OLG’s internet gaming revenue, it only receives 5.7 per cent from the private internet platforms registered with iGaming Ontario.
In the year 2021 – 22, OLG had total proceeds of $7.1 Billion, and produced a profit of $1.6 billion to the province. Of that, $7 million was given to Responsible Gambling programs, about 0.1 per cent of total revenues, or 2 per cent of total profits.
During the first Leafs/Panthers playoff game, there were eight and a half minutes of advertising for gambling. That does not include the ads on the ice or flashed on the boards.
3. Things you can do
Ask for a meeting with your MP and MPP and ask them to support the idea of a ban on gambling ads – perhaps through their support for a private members bill.
Send this Bulletin to your friends and colleagues and ask them to subscribe.